English

Verb

do up ‎(third-person singular simple present does up, present participle doing up, simple past did up, past participle done up)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To fasten (a piece of clothing, etc.); to tighten (a nut etc.)

   I can't do up my shirt. The button is missing.

   Help me do up this zipper.

   You hold it in place while I do up the nut.

2. (transitive, idiomatic, colloquial) To redecorate (a room, etc.).

   I'm going to do up the living room next.

   They've done up the house so that they can sell it more easily.

3. (transitive, idiomatic, informal) To execute a task or performance.

   This time I'm going to do it up right.

4. (transitive, idiomatic) To pack together and envelop; to pack up.

   I did up the parcel with string and took it to the post office.

5. (transitive, dated) To accomplish thoroughly.
6. (transitive, archaic) To starch and iron.
   • Hawthorne

     a rich gown of velvet, and a ruff done up with the famous yellow starch

7. (slang) To beat up; to physically assault.

Usage notes

The object may appear before or after the particle. If the object is a pronoun, then it must be before the particle.

Derived terms

• done up like a kipper

Hyponyms

• (fasten clothing): buckle, buckle up, button, button up, tie, tie up, zip, zip up

Antonyms

• (fasten clothing): undo

Anagrams

• updo